Whiffletree-iron.



J. W. SMATHERS.

WHIFFLETEEE IRON.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 9, 1912.

1,100,922. Patented June 23, 1914.

F .2. F .i,

Attorney EOLUMIIA PLANDGRAPH CO-AVASNING'ION, D. c.

UNlTED STATES PATENT @FFKCE.

JOHN W. SMATHERS, OF HENDERSONVLLE, NOR-TH CAROLINA.

WHIFFLETREE-IRON.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOHN SMATHERS, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Hendersonville, in the county of Henderson and State of North Carolina, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in .Vhiflietree-Irons, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the means for attaching the whiltletrees to the equalizers in draft mechanisms for road vehicles, farm machinery and the like, and has for its object the provision of a device by which the whitfletrees may be easily and quickly attached to and removed from the equalizer, and consists of an attachment to be secured to the equalizer embodying a plate with a latch-block secured thereto and a device secured to the whiffietree having a slot to receive the latch-block and a recess to receive the block when the whitfletree is turned into position.

My invention will be described in detail hereinafter and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a view of a fragment of an equalizer and a whiflietree showing my improved attachment in position; Fig. 2, a topplan view of the attachment, showing the U-strap partly broken away; Fig. 3, a plan view of the member secured to the equalizer; and Fig. 4, a fragmental view of the attachment in cross-section.

In the drawings similar reference characters will be used to designate corresponding parts in all of the views.

A indicates an equalizer of any desired construction and may be a doubletree or for three or more draft animals, as desired, and B a whiffletree.

1 indicates a plate having downwardlyextending side flanges 2 and laterally-extending lips 3 to receive the ends of a U- shaped strap 4; that engages the bottom and sides of equalizer A to hold the plate 1 in position on the top thereof.

5 indicates an enlarged latch-block secured to plate 1 and spaced apart therefrom by means of a shoulder 6.

7 indicates a plate mounted on the underside of whittletree B and having upwardly- Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 9, 1912.

Patented June 23, 191a.

Serial No. 708,417.

extending side flanges 8 and laterallyextending lips 9 to receive U-shaped strap 10, engaging the top and sides of the whiflletree, said plate having an enlarged opening or slot 11 therein to receive block 5.

12 indicates plates secured to the upper side of plate 7 at each side of the slot 11, with their inner edges formed with segmental cut-out portions 12 on each side of the slot that form recesses 13 for the ends of the block 5 when the whiflietree is in place on the equalizer.

From the above description and an inspection of the drawings it will be apparent that to place the whitfletree in position on the equalizer, the parts hereinbefore described as being attached to the two members being in position, the whiflietree must be turned so that the latch-block 5 will enter the slot 11, and the plates 1 and 7 being in engagement the whifdetree B is then turned to the position for hitching, the block 5 riding in recesses 13. The engagement of the block 5 with the inner side of plate 7 will effectually prevent dismemberment of the whiffietree and equalizer and at the same time the freedom of movement of the whiflietree relatively to the equalizer will not be impaired. To remove the whiflietree from the equalizer it'is only necessary to turn the whifiietree until it is crosswise of the equalizer, when the block 5 will be in position to pass through the slot 11.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is A Whittle-tree coupling comprising a plate, downwardly extending flanges formed on the sides of said plate, laterally extending lips formed on the ends of said flanges and provided with apertures therein, U-shaped straps carried by said lateral lips and adapted to secure said plate to an equalizer, a shoulder formed on said plate and provided with an enlarged portion at the upper end thereof forming a latch block, a second plate provided with upwardly extending flanges and laterally extending lips secured there to and provided with apertures therein, a second U-shaped strap carried by last mentioned lips and adapted to secure second mentioned plate to a whift1e-tree, said second mentioned plate provided with an my hand in presence of two subscribing Witaperture therein adapted to receive the latch nesses.

block, plates secured to second mentioned plate and provided With segmental aperture 5 therein forming a locking means for the Witnesses:

latch block. H WVIL'rsHnzE GRIFFITH,

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set B. F. STATON.

JOHN W. SMATHERS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of latents, Washington, D. G. 

